Big Jimbo

Defo +1 And either have the ability to challenge how they are doing things, or perhaps pay the local bloke you know a few bob in cash to pop around every few days to check that what has been done is up to standard. Dump the Architect. The local builder would be a lot cheaper and do a better job.

Lets hope so.... Either that or they are offering me enough rope to hang myself with. I do wonder if they were to view my proposal only against what is currently on the site, would they be able to use my permitted devl, or my extant planning permission, or both, as special circumstances, to show that my scheme is better than both of those, and therefore less harmful to the greenbelt ????? The only other thing, and i don't know if it might work in my favour or not, is that the council don't have an up to date local plan, nor can they demonstate that they have a 5 year supply of housing land. All of the land currently under consideration by the council is Virgin Greenbelt. Mine however is a piece of residential land, with a property, that is in the greenbelt. I'd like to think that it can therefore be considered "previously developed land" of even Brownfield at a push. If all else fails, i will be able to build the one big house that i have permission for, sell it and bugger off. My only cost in applying for the 2 has been the £840. I've done all of the drawings, studies, writing, etc myself. So it's not like i have spent out 20 0r 30 grand. Just my time, and it beats watching the telly. Oh, and a lot of lead for my propelling pencil !

Yes they do. i've worked on houses with 4 kitchens, 8 bedrooms, countless reception rooms, snooker rooms, gyms, cinema, indoor poor, changing area etc.......With 2 very rich people living in them. It must take them hours to find each other.

Welcome Clockers.

So that is now 26 + 17 drawings.. 32 pages of D and A information, and a further 3 pages of tables, and info. Would anybody be able to send me a new pencil ?

Just to keep you all posted. Received an email from the planning officer last Thursday, saying that he had consulted with his boss, and that they wanted further info, and a list of very special circumstances. I have gone back with 17 more drawings, (which i spent all weekend doing) and 3 pages of writing, tables etc. I believe that i have shown that my proposal for 2 houses, when considered against my Extant planning permission, or my Permitted Devl rights, is less harmful to the greenbelt, and therefore complies with para 145, section G of the NPPF, and that i don't need Special circumstances. We shall have to wait annd see. (Finger crossed) No request for an extension from them. I'll keep you posted.

Without a brick or block outer skin it is considered an issue. The grren roof was basically because i have a height restriction, so thought i might as well chuck a bit of sedum up there.

You forgot to mention.....and very bloody nice.

I am still reading lots of not nice things on the internet about non standard construction. My house design has a flat roof to house solar panels, and about 3/4 of it will be a green roof. I wanted to build the walls from wood i-beams, and clad the outside with a product that is 97% re-cycled, 60%wood, and 37% plastic. I am also considering an eps passive foundation system...... From what i am reading, i am starting to wonder if i will ever be able to insure it or ever sell it without giving it away. I know a lot of people on here have done some form of non standard construction... How have you got on ? starting to think it might be easier to just go block and block, and clad the outside. What are your thoughts ?

Some drivers are fantastic, and some are not.....You will defo not need the gym tonight.

He said he might get a chance to look at it next week sometime. He could'nt give me any idea on if it might be negative, or positive as he had'nt even looked at it yet. I've paid for a service that i'm not getting...... why is that ok ? 5 previous applications with the same planning officer, and not a single one determined within the timescale... Going back years when i was in banking, i used to start at 7am and finish at 4. At my annual big boss meeting they said that they were concerned about my commitment to the job, as i did'nt work a load of extra hours for free for them. My counterpart on the other hand, worked from 7am untill 9 or 10pm. I made a lot more profit for the bank than he did, and also gave him a lot of my deals so that he could make his targets, and i did'nt go too far passed my targets. I said the reason why he had to work so many hours was because he was crap at his job !!! I left soon after because i had had enough of the banking system, and he had a breakdown ! Sometimes, people are just doing the wrong job, and doing it badly.

So, planning decision due next Tuesday.....Just rang the planning officer dealing with the application, and guess what...... He has not even looked at it yet !!!!!!! Best part of 8 weeks, and he has not yet even looked at it.......... This is'nt some newly qualified kid. This is a guy who has been a planning officer for over 20 years. So exactly what have i just paid £840 quid for. Some people need to find a new job. So do i put it in for appeal next week, due to non determination ? Or do i write to his boss again, as i have had to do with all previous applications ? My councils planning dept are total rubbish. Your thoughts ????

We are all overworked..... First LDC ran over time so i had to extend for him. NCS ran over time.......Bungalow to large house ran over time......The guy was taken off planning by the council due to poor performance, then put onto CIL. Taken off that because the council found he was'nt collecting CIL payments ! Put back on planning because, lets face it, the council never sack anybody. Job for life..... My daughter used to work for a different council, 30 people in her team. She said the department could easily have been run by 10 people, but needed 30 because most of the people were useless, or liked working from home. Strangly, the one's working from home never actually seemed to get any work done.

You are all such nice people. Can i have you all as my new nice neighbours if i build 1 large, or 2 smaller houses ? I promise i am a nice person, just don't have a lot of time for poor quality planning officers who can't work to timescales.

Afternoon all. A quick re-cap. Bought a bungalow, 1/2 acre plot, in the Green belt. Managed to get permission to extend it to about 6 times it's original size. Felt that for the good of mankind i might be better seeing if i could get 2 houses instead of 1 large house. Chucked in a quickly put together application for 2 houses on the plot, which was refused. Sat down and put my 1 worn out braincell into gear. I then undertook a site study, Footprint, Mass, Bulk, Previous developement on the site, Sightlines, sight width, Site area coverage, sustainability of the site, and a design strategy. Basically 32 A4 pages showing all the studies and conclusions. I think it is very comprehensive. I then sent this in to the planners as an application, and included drawings etc, for 2 houses. Now i know that the planning officer is overworked, however, he is Mr negative in a big way, and although i do believe that i have clearly shown, that my proposal for 2 houses, in place of the 1 large house is less detrimental to the Green belt, i will be amazed if it goes through. I am fully prepared to take it to appeal, and think i would stand a 75% chance of winning. The question i have is, as i only have 1 week to go on my 8 weeks for the planner to determine my application, shall i rattle his chain ??? If i don't then without doubt it will run over time, and i will be able to put it in for appeal for non determination. Do you think that the planning inspectorate would take a dim view of the application not being determined by the council within the time limit, and could this work in my favour....... ie, application not determined, rather than refused ??? Your thoughts Regards Jimbo

Nice bit of stonework Redoctober

I would go with his decking idea as i think it won't do any harm. Also think about sloping the decking slightly away from the building, as any driving rain coming in under the canopy will be directed away. Woul'nt have thought you would need any above the ground Screws but you could always dip your posts in moulten Bitch if you were worried.

Whoo Hooo. Looking good

The Crazy Bear is nice. Did you know it was a knocking shop. although as its a posh knocking shop i bet it is expensive. Champers is £100 + a bottle

When i needed an EPC on my daughter house, when i was doing a large extention. I phoned an old developer pal to see if he could give me a clue who to use. He said use my bloke, and gave me his number. The guy asked me what result i wanted. Said that very few people would have a clue what the data ment ! Told him what rating i wanted, and he sent it in the post.... Airtest man on the last new build i did for a client. Turned up and asked me what result i wanted !!!! said that they can fiddle the software to get whatever result i wanted. I think to be convinced, i would want to see actual running cost bills. My cousin was involved in writing the software that is used all around the world for National Lotteries. I asked him if they had put in any back doors to enable a winning ticket to be produced after the draw. He said they had, and that it would take 4 people to be logged in as the draw takes place to enable a winning ticket to be produced.. Show me a Gas, and an electric bill any day.

I think that younger people are so pleased to find somewhere that they can afford to buy, or rent, that they don't care what the EPC says. Rich people don't seem to give a toss either. I think the idea of the EPC is a good one, but i just don't work.

I used to design and build high end kitchens for posh new houses. I used to take photos of the installed products on whatever camera was on my phone, and then select a couple to put on my website. They never looked as good in the photos, as they did in the flesh. Getting them photographed by a professional made such a difference. They know about angles, lighting, and about composition. It is a skill like a lot of things in life. I did however have one of my phone photos used as a magazine front cover. When i used to present my designs to a developer, i always used to do Two designs. The first would be pratical, and the second would be the "wow" design. They always went for the wow. I always think that it is very hard to make things that are only made from a single material, look stunning, however, too many materials can look a mess. Good design is , in my opinion, not that hard. Good design that looks fantastic is much harder to achieve.

For £800 extra i would go for £ phase

Good luck. Fingers crossed. Mine is due on June 11th.....

Morning Peeps. I did explain previously that i had obtained permission to extend my tiny bungalow into a 3000sq ft and detatched garage. I went back into planning for 2 new houses instead, as although 2 would prob have less value than 1 large, i felt it was better for future generations etc, and having had to help my 3 daughters onto the property ladder, I wanted to do something better for the future. My application was refused for over developement..... I have now gone back in with a new scheme, and demonstrated that it is better / less harmful than my single large house... If anybody wants to take a look, and even better, give me a comment of support on the councils web site, that would be great. My planning officer is a bit of a wet, and is defo swayed by the amount of support something gets... Dacorum Council. Ref.4/00926/19/FUL. Not a bribe, but as a small thanks, any positive comments recieved will each get a £10 donation to the Dogs Trust. Ta much. Regards Jim